Chapter 5 No.5

Alpha Maximus

My Beta Alex and Gamma Nathan chain me up in the Dark Moon pack’s dungeon, and inject wolfsbane into me to weaken my lycan, before he shifts. Every full moon I lose control over my lycan. Being chained up in the dungeon until morning is the only way to stop me from hurting or killing anyone.

Lycans are extremely rare, and strong. One lycan can take on a few alphas at once. Most of the time I’m strong enough to control Chaos, my lycan.

I’m greatly feared by all; even my own pack members. My Beta Alex closes and locks the iron-barred door.

‘Okay, Alpha Maximus. We’ll see you in the morning,’ he says.

‘Don't break out this time. I'd rather not refurnish the pack house again,’ Nathan smirks.

‘Chaos has become more aggressive and stronger. He hasn’t spoken to me in months,’ I explain.

‘Relax Alpha. We have more wolfsbane if we need it, and these chains are strong. You’ll be fine,’ Nathan says, reassuringly. I nod and watch them leave. I’m feeling a bit groggy from the wolfsbane. I sit staring at the cuffs around my wrists and ankles, and up at the moon hole, waiting for the full moon to phase.

My bones start to break and fur spreads all over my body. I shift into Chaos and let out a ferocious roar that all of the Dark Moon pack will have heard.

Chaos has full control now, and he fights against the chains in anger and agitation. Hours pass, and he is still trying to break free, showing no sign of slowing down.

Chaos... I know you won't talk to me, but I want you to know I’m here. I feel your anger and frustration too. I say.

He lets out another terrifying roar.

We will find her, Chaos. I won't give up looking for her. I say.

Free me now, and I will find her myself! Chaos snaps.

You know I can't let you out of here until I have control again! I argue. Another ferocious roar echoes throughout the pack house.

You’re only pissing the pack off when you keep waking them up and scaring them. I explain.

At the end of the moon phase, my bones mend themselves and I shift back into human form. I mind-link Alex to let him know he can come and unchain me.

‘How was your night?’ I ask Alex, and he scrunches up his face.

‘Well, that depends. Do you want the truth or a lie?’ He asks.

‘Which one is the nicer answer?’ I ask.

‘The lie,’ he says, with a nervous chuckle.

‘Okay, tell me, then,’ I say, rolling my eyes.

‘Bella and I slept so well. We weren’t woken numerous times by horrific howls,’ he says, sarcastically, crossing his arms.

‘I'm sorry I woke her and scared her,’ I say, miserably.

‘It's fine, Alpha. You can't help it,’ Alex says, with a sigh.

Alex unlocks the iron-barred door and removes the cuffs from my wrists and ankles.

‘I want you and Nathan to bring me a map of every pack house we have been to,’ I explain.

‘Okay. What’s your plan?’ Alex asks.

‘I need to find my mate,’ I say.

‘Every unmated female from every pack was at your gathering here last month,’ he reminds me.

‘What are you implying?’ I ask.

‘That your mate might not exist or has—’

Chaos half-shifts, snarls, and takes a swipe at Alex with his claws.

Alex quickly slams the iron door shut so I can't attack him. After a few minutes, I’m back in control. As soon as I catch my breath, I look up at Alex.

‘You're losing control of Chaos too often,’ Alex growls.

He unlocks the door and lets me out. I grab him by the neck and hold him against the wall.

‘Don't imply my mate doesn’t exist or has died ever again! Otherwise, Chaos will be the least of your worries. It will be me you will have to fear!’ I growl.

I let Alex go, and he drops to the ground in fear, and walks away.

‘Get me that map today!’ I snap, angrily.

Storming upstairs to my room, I remove my pants, and get into the shower. I lean my head against the wall and think about what Alex said.

She must exist. One of the packs must not have sent all of their unmated females to the gathering. As expected, Chaos ignores me.

Dressed in a white, long-sleeved shirt, black suit pants, and black shoes, I walk to the kitchen, leaving the top few buttons of my shirt undone.

‘Good morning, Beth. Sorry if Chaos disrupted your night,’ I apologise.

‘Oh, of course not, Alpha Max!’ She says, a bright smile across her face.

‘You know you can come disrupt my night any time you want,’ she says, smirking.

‘If only the Moon Goddess blessed me with you as my mate,’ I chuckle.

Beth is my cook and a dear old lady who worked for my parents before they died and I became Alpha.

She is always cheerful; not even a bad night's sleep takes that away from her. She is probably the only one who isn't overly-bothered by my lycan.

‘Pancakes for breakfast?’ She asks, with a big grin.

‘Just a coffee this morning, Beth. I’ve got a lot of work to do today,’ I say.

‘I'll make you an extra big lunch then,’ she says, and I roll my eyes.

‘Yes, that will be fine,’ I agree.

Taking my coffee, I sit in my large chair at my desk. Nathan knocks and enters.

‘Morning, Alpha Max,’ he says.

‘Good morning, Nathan. Has Alex found the map yet?’ I ask, sipping my coffee.

‘Yes. He will be here shortly. Did something happen Alpha Max? He seemed a little on edge,’ Nathan asks.

‘It's fine. We were both out of line. It's nothing he won't get over,’ I explain. Alex knocks on my door, and Nathan pulls up a chair for him, and we spend the day going over the map, making a list of all the packs I haven't been to.

‘Okay, now that we have this list, I'll contact all the alphas of these packs and tell them we will be staying with them and meeting all of their unmated she-wolves,’ I explain.

‘There will be full moons when we visit. You’ll have to make sure they can have you locked up and secure each full moon. Can we trust these alphas?’ Nathan asks.

‘That's true. We don't know a lot of these alphas. But you’ll be coming with me Nathan, and twelve of my best pack warriors. Alex will stay and look after the pack while I’m gone,’ I explain.

All the alphas are contacted, and none are too keen to have me. Some even refuse to have me at first; obviously petrified of having a lycan among them.

Beth enters my office with a massive plate of pancakes.

‘Thanks Beth!’ We all say, grabbing some pancakes.

‘Plenty more where that came from, boys,’ she says, winking and leaving the room.

‘When are you leaving Alpha Max?’ Alex asks, his mouth stuffed with pancakes.

‘First thing tomorrow morning. I'd like to get some good travel in before the next full moon,’ I explain.

‘Okay. I’ll tell the warriors to pack and be ready to leave by dawn,’ Alex says.

After the meeting I apologise to half the pack for scaring them the previous night, and they are a bit too happy when I tell them I might be gone for weeks or even months. I remind them they should consider themselves lucky they are in such a strong and powerful pack.

Nathan informs me I need to be more approachable and yell less. Then the pack members might warm up to me.

When I see they’re afraid of me or despise me, I struggle to stay calm. My lycan doesn't care for any of them and offers to wipe them out many times.

I tell Chaos if he stopped trying to take control of me, the pack members wouldn't be so frightened all the time.

All I want is mate! I want what is mine! To mark her, hold her, and mate her! Chaos snarls.

And how do you think my mate’s wolf is going to react with you snarling and speaking like that? I highly doubt she will warm up to you. And Nathan says I’m the one who needs to be more approachable. I scoff.

Chaos growls and snaps at me before blocking our conversation so I can't talk to him. It’s time for me to rest anyway before my journey tomorrow.